The real Baltimore

The real Baltimore

Rob Carr / Getty Images

Where would you take someone to in Baltimore if A) you're trying to convince them to move here B) trying to give them a truly authentic experience and C) want to scare them away? I've been here 30 years and still struggle with that one. -- Dennis M., Hamilton-Lauraville A) I am quite ignorant as I have only been here since 2006 and am still discovering the city myself, but I'd say grab a sandwich at Trinacria then head over to Camden Yards, a truly beautiful stadium, and take in a game. Then grab a coffee at Sage and hop on the light rail to Hampden to check out True Vine, and get a ride from store owner Jason Willet to Chicken Rico. Finish it off with the best drinks in town at The Tavern! Now I'm homesick. B) Crab Towne is bad ass. You can get crabs and beer and play old video games and pinball -- the "Star Wars" pinball is my fave! This is where I prefer to have my birthday. You can also play lotto and scratch off while you're there if ya dig that too. C) An aging frat dude's condo in Federal Hill, where he watches "Mike and Molly" then drifts off to sleep drooling on his jogging suit / dreaming of all the people he under tipped and offended, followed by him shaving his hair completely off, walking naked into the void which rightfully swallows him. Kidding. Um, my room or a trip to Bank of America to see my account balance? -- Ed Schrader

Where would you take someone to in Baltimore if A) you're trying to convince them to move here B) trying to give them a truly authentic experience and C) want to scare them away? I've been here 30 years and still struggle with that one. -- Dennis M., Hamilton-Lauraville A) I am quite ignorant as I have only been here since 2006 and am still discovering the city myself, but I'd say grab a sandwich at Trinacria then head over to Camden Yards, a truly beautiful stadium, and take in a game. Then grab a coffee at Sage and hop on the light rail to Hampden to check out True Vine, and get a ride from store owner Jason Willet to Chicken Rico. Finish it off with the best drinks in town at The Tavern! Now I'm homesick. B) Crab Towne is bad ass. You can get crabs and beer and play old video games and pinball -- the "Star Wars" pinball is my fave! This is where I prefer to have my birthday. You can also play lotto and scratch off while you're there if ya dig that too. C) An aging frat dude's condo in Federal Hill, where he watches "Mike and Molly" then drifts off to sleep drooling on his jogging suit / dreaming of all the people he under tipped and offended, followed by him shaving his hair completely off, walking naked into the void which rightfully swallows him. Kidding. Um, my room or a trip to Bank of America to see my account balance? -- Ed Schrader (Rob Carr / Getty Images)

Where would you take someone to in Baltimore if A) you're trying to convince them to move here B) trying to give them a truly authentic experience and C) want to scare them away? I've been here 30 years and still struggle with that one. -- Dennis M., Hamilton-Lauraville A) I am quite ignorant as I have only been here since 2006 and am still discovering the city myself, but I'd say grab a sandwich at Trinacria then head over to Camden Yards, a truly beautiful stadium, and take in a game. Then grab a coffee at Sage and hop on the light rail to Hampden to check out True Vine, and get a ride from store owner Jason Willet to Chicken Rico. Finish it off with the best drinks in town at The Tavern! Now I'm homesick. B) Crab Towne is bad ass. You can get crabs and beer and play old video games and pinball -- the "Star Wars" pinball is my fave! This is where I prefer to have my birthday. You can also play lotto and scratch off while you're there if ya dig that too. C) An aging frat dude's condo in Federal Hill, where he watches "Mike and Molly" then drifts off to sleep drooling on his jogging suit / dreaming of all the people he under tipped and offended, followed by him shaving his hair completely off, walking naked into the void which rightfully swallows him. Kidding. Um, my room or a trip to Bank of America to see my account balance? -- Ed Schrader